Biodiversity offsets and credits are currently being promoted as mechanisms to channel financial resources towards biodiversity protection. But a growing body of evidence shows that biodiversity offsets, which are modelled after problematic carbon markets, could lead to significant social and environmental harm. Moreover, biocrediting systems are unlikely to be effective in terms of either protecting ecosystems or raising reliable additional funding for biodiversity conservation.

These mechanisms raise many concerns, summarized in this publication, and include greenwashing, human rights violations, conflicts over tenure rights, land grabbing, community displacements, and impacts on ecosystem integrity and food sovereignty. At the same time, market-driven failures are perpetuated, with little or no revenue accruing to communities on the ground.

This FAQ aims to explain further the concepts, assumptions and key features of biodiversity offsets and credits. Instead of these false solutions to address the biodiversity crisis, what is needed is the prioritization of transformational change in tackling the underlying causes of biodiversity destruction. 

The document is available in English, Spanish and French on the website’s dedicated pages, and also in Portuguese and in Malaysian